NewStats: 3,259,250 , 8,169,609 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 01:46 PM 25h25

Aircraft engineers and technicians of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft, which was grounded for 23 years.

A statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, announcing the feat, underscored NAF’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance to bolster its operational readiness, whilst contributing to Nigeria’s inherent aviation capabilities.

The aircraft, originally designated ‘5N-MPS’ and operated by the now defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, was grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.

He said following a presidential directive for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to transfer such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the NAF initiated the project.

AVM Akinboyewa said the NAF took on the challenge to reactivate the aircraft, a Dash 201 Series with only history of 1,081 flight hours, considering the task a unique opportunity to restore a valuable national asset.

He said the reactivation process of the grounded aircraft, now redesignated ‘NAF-039’, was conducted between June and September 2024, involving meticulous planning and painstaking execution by a crack team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group (Engr Gp), Kaduna.

According to him, the task required the application of advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards.

“The success of this project carries significant strategic implications, bearing in mind that, beyond enhancing the NAF’s fleet, it symbolises the Service’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance for operational effectiveness. It also serves as a morale booster for the NAF engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to undertake complex projects which otherwise would be outsourced to foreign entities,” he added.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended the 431 Engineering Group for their dedication, and emphasised the broader import of the achievement.

The CAS started that the project reflected NAF’s resolve to optimise resources, strengthen its fleet, and uphold national security through operational excellence.

The CAS was quoted as saying: “The successful reactivation of NAF 039 is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and our commitment to self-reliance.”

According to the statement, the accomplishment builds upon the NAF’s earlier successes, such as the conduct of the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection on another DO-228 aircraft in January 2024.

“Together, these milestones highlight the NAF’s growing capacity for advanced in-house aircraft maintenance, and serve as a foundation for future projects aimed at achieving technical autonomy.

“The reactivation of NAF-039 after 23 years is more than an engineering achievement; it showcases the NAF’s ingenuity, resilience, and commitment to operational excellence.

“It also reaffirms the Air Force’s vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity, while highlighting its dedication to resource optimisation and self-reliance,” he stated.

AVM Akinboyewa said the newly reactivated aircraft will bolster the NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities by ing the fleet of DO 228 aircraft, a platform still actively used worldwide.

“This achievement solidifies the NAF’s position as a formidable player in Africa’s aviation sector, with the potential to lead in indigenous maintenance and technical innovation,” the Airforce spokesman added.

More Photos Below:

https://leadership.ng/pictorial-naf-engineers-reactivate-aircraft-grounded-for-23-years/

Over my dead body..

NIGERIAN ENGINEERS........Redflag

REACTIVATE........Redflag

A GROUNDED AIRCRAFT......

AIRCRAFT GROUNDED FOR 23YRS......another Big Redflag

Nigerians with their Primitive approach to mechanical issues.


NAF, pls for safety sake, Only white men with their mysterious ways of handling technical issues should be invited to work on that grounded Aircraft.....

Una no go sell am as scrap?

When it misfires now and kills innocent villagers, you would come up with ridiculous reason that it was a university explosion, not secondary.

Nice one

MasterJayJay:
Una no go sell am as scrap?

When it misfires now and kills innocent villagers, you would come up with ridiculous reason that it was a university explosion, not secondary.

How old are the fighter jets we have been acquiring from other places?

GOFRONT:
Over my dead body..

NIGERIAN ENGINEERS........Redflag

REACTIVATE........Redflag

A GROUNDED AIRCRAFT......

AIRCRAFT GROUNDED FOR 23YRS......another Big Redflag

Nigerians with their Primitive approach to mechanical issues.


NAF, pls for safety sake, Only white men with their mysterious ways of handling technical issues should be invited to work on that grounded Aircraft.....

Cover yourself with shame. You are not even proud of your race.

See the many Occupational and Workshop Flaws of a Nigerian or a Blackman who is an Aircraft Technician..........Safety precaution.......Zero!!!

Tufiakwa!!

Pam slippers in d workshop

See tha one on Afro Haircut come resemble d guy above me...... , no headgear, no handgloves

See papa with Jagajaga paintings......No handglove, no helmet. See Boots

See sprayer man. Spray Hose directly run on his body. No nosemask, no handgloves n helmet. See his standing position on the double faced ladder. He could snap and down he goes.

The last man in the pics looks like one Hell E-nous That i know

Congratulations NAF engineers and technicians, keep pushing harder, gradually you will soon be manufacturing new aircraft with local content. Well done!

GOFRONT:
Over my dead body..

NIGERIAN ENGINEERS........Redflag

REACTIVATE........Redflag

A GROUNDED AIRCRAFT......

AIRCRAFT GROUNDED FOR 23YRS......another Big Redflag

Nigerians with their Primitive approach to mechanical issues.


NAF, pls for safety sake, Only white men with their mysterious ways of handling technical issues should be invited to work on that grounded Aircraft.....

E be like say your brain dey pain you? This is the kind of mentality that kept Africa backward

All the best.

God abeg ooh wetin be this na? I no wan hear plane crash ooh

We no fit do something for this country make the process looks standard see as everywhere just dey anyhow

Wow kudos!

Welcome development

God bless Nigeria

dre11:


https://leadership.ng/pictorial-naf-engineers-reactivate-aircraft-grounded-for-23-years/

Should i say reactivating or Mordernising a COFFI.N

God bless Tinubu

GOFRONT:


See the many Occupational and Workshop Flaws of a Nigerian or a Blackman who is an Aircraft Technician..........Safety precaution.......Zero!!!

Tufiakwa!!

Pam slippers in d workshop

See tha one on Afro Haircut come resemble d guy above me...... , no headgear, no handgloves

See papa with Jagajaga paintings......No handglove, no helmet. See Boots

See sprayer man. Spray Hose directly run on his body. No nosemask, no handgloves n helmet. See his standing position on the double faced ladder. He could snap and down he goes.

The last man in the pics looks like one Hell E-nous That i know

Lack of professionalism, simple.

If i was a personnel of Nigeria Air Force, i would resign any day, i am made to fly with this plane.

Since when did Nigeria start refurbish planes?

GOFRONT:


See the many Occupational and Workshop Flaws of a Nigerian or a Blackman who is an Aircraft Technician..........Safety precaution.......Zero!!!

Tufiakwa!!

Pam slippers in d workshop

See tha one on Afro Haircut come resemble d guy above me...... , no headgear, no handgloves

See papa with Jagajaga paintings......No handglove, no helmet. See Boots

See sprayer man. Spray Hose directly run on his body. No nosemask, no handgloves n helmet. See his standing position on the double faced ladder. He could snap and down he goes.

The last man in the pics looks like one Hell E-nous That i know

You said it all, poor safety handling.. We no way hear say crash ooh, Nigerians should have nothing to do with aircraft maintenance or repairs.

This is what they call...FLY AND DIE

dre11:


https://leadership.ng/pictorial-naf-engineers-reactivate-aircraft-grounded-for-23-years/

They should manage to fly it to Lagos for display at the national museum.

Hope that's not a flying coffin

This 2025 na good year o.

We thank God for giving us a good president, who is bold enough to take on issues other gloss about

dre11:


https://leadership.ng/pictorial-naf-engineers-reactivate-aircraft-grounded-for-23-years/

Nice one....but it's 23 years behind in Technology.

Considering how frequently those tiny aircraft crash these days, even in the United States, I believe it is best to completely stay away from these machines.

In any case, they ought to think about safety and extreme caution before flying this coffin-like machine.

helinues:


Cover yourself with shame. You are not even proud of your race.

go enter that thing na, the ones that are up to date are crashing, you just want to type RIP, you derive joy in doing that

Flying coffin ⚰️.

Will the plane be added to the presidential fleet? Bon voyage to the s.

Them don tell you say keep off

GOFRONT:
Over my dead body..

NIGERIAN ENGINEERS........Redflag

REACTIVATE........Redflag

A GROUNDED AIRCRAFT......

AIRCRAFT GROUNDED FOR 23YRS......another Big Redflag

Nigerians with their Primitive approach to mechanical issues.


NAF, pls for safety sake, Only white men with their mysterious ways of handling technical issues should be invited to work on that grounded Aircraft.....

they are trying seriously I have seen the mobile carrier they built this is a start if it fails they learn so kudos we should have sured Egypt by now in tech but series of misappropriation stalled them the decision of BAT to setup a defense fund is commendable although I really don't him its is commendable

helinues:


How old are the fighter jets we have been acquiring from other places?

Tinubu should enter the plane for test flying.